Warp knitting machine

ABSTRACT

A warp knitting machine, particularly a stitching machine, having a reciprocating weft laying device is provided with devices for handling webs as the weft materials. More particularly, to assure that the webs do not twist when they are pushed onto needles of transport chains at the motion reversal points of the weft laying device, for operation in conjunction with the devices for pushing the webs onto the needles are provided devices for retaining the webs in untwisted configurations as they are pushed onto the needles.

United States Patent n91 Heilmann et al.

[ July 23, 1974 WARP KNITTING MACHINE Inventors: Fery Heilmann,

Limbach-Oberfrohna; Peter Edel, Karl-Marx-Stadt, both of Germany Institut fur Textilmaschinen, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Germany Filed: June 29, 1973 ApplfNo; 375,309

Assignee:

US. Cl. 66/84, 28/1 CL, 66/85 A Int. Cl D04b 23/06 Field of Search 66/83, 84, 85, 85 A;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Klaevi 6 6/85 A 5/1972 Doring et al 66/84 9/1973 Kemter 66/84 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlbert C. Nolte, Jrx, Edward B. Hunter; C. Bruce Hamburg [5 7] ABSTRACT A warp knitting machine, particularly a stitching machine, having a reciprocating weft laying device is provided with devices for handling webs as the weft materials. More particularly, to assure that the webs do not twist when they are pushed onto needles of transport chains at the motion reversal points of the weft laying device, for operation in conjunction with the devices for pushing the webs onto the needles are provided devices for retaining the webs in untwisted configurations as they are pushed onto the needles.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 t WARP KNITTING MACHINE The invention realtes to a modification of a warp knitting machine, in particular, a stitching machine, having a series of pointed knitting needles, with which is associated at least one laying bar fitted with pointed eye needles, further comprising means for supplying threads which are to be laid in weft direction by means of a laying device located before the stitch-forming point, which laying device, actuated by a common drive, moves back and forth between two transport means for thethreads, limiting the work width and fitted with hooks. The laying device consists essentially of two hold-downs which can be set in operation alternately at'the motion reversal points and each of which is connected through a coupling member with a system of pivotable levers and of guide means for the threads to be laid. v

A warp knitting machine of the above described kind for the production of a textile material is already known. For the purpose of laying of a thread group crosswise between two transport means, this machine is equipped with a reciprocating weft thread laying device. Due to the laying of the weft thread group, a layer of such threads is formed,'which layer is fed to the stitch-forming point by the transport means. The stitchforming point consists essentially ofa series of pointed knitting needles, which cooperates with a laying bar equipped with pointed eye needles. Perpendicularly' thereto there are provided also a stitch plate and counter-holding means for locking in the threads to be processed. In the known warp knitting machine the thread material is supplied by a bobbin creel, there being arranged between the latter and the weft thread laying device a tensioning device compensating for fluctuations in the thread requirement and subject to spring action. The weft thread Iayingdevice itself comprises a support element mounted for reciprocating movement on a rod to which is fastened a parallel four-bar linkage. The latter has'two pivotably movable double levers arranged one above the other, theends of which are connected articulatedly' witha coupling member for each, on both sides.'Toward the weft thread layer the coupling members are each provided with an elongation followed by a hold-down. Before the holddowns, run-up rolls are provided at the coupling members, so that the parallel four-bar transmission is alternately movable up and down 'atthe motion reversal points of the weft thread laying device. For this purpose a run-up cam for each is arranged at the motion reversal points. The guiding of the weft threads occurs at the weft thread laying device on the entrance side by guide rods and on the exit side by means of a series of pointed eye needles corresponding to the number of weft threads of the thread group. When the weft thread laying device reaches in its reciprocating movement between the transportmeans a motion reversal point, then the outer run-up roll together with its coupling member is moved upward over the run-up cam present at that place, so that the, in this position inner, holddown presses the weftthread group under the plane of the hooks of the transport means. In the interaction with the movement of the respective transport means toward the stitch-forming point, the weft threads get" into the hooks of the transport means and are thereupon placed around the hooks, that is, seized by them, the weft thread laying device beginning its movement toward the other side over onto the transport means there. When the weft thread laying device gets to the other transport'means, the same process occurs of the transfer of the weft threads to the hooks of this transport means. These cycles, carried out in any desired number, result in a zigzag type crossed thread layer, which serves as base material of the textile material to be produced.

The desired warp knitting machine with its weft thread layer serving asthe laying device cannot be used for the laying of webs, this in particular for the reason that single thread guide elements are provided in the form of pointed eye needles. If the pointed eye needles were simply replaced by a slot, undesirable crosswise displacements of the web would occur, with the result that a transfer to the hooks of the transport means would be practically impossible. The'term web is intended to include both unitary webs and parallel arrays of narrower unitary webs.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages in the laying of webs.

The principal object of the invention is achieved in that, for the purpose-of the laying of webs there are provided as guide means for the same on the side of the laying device facing the transport means, a slot and two retention devices which can alternately be brought into knitting machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the laying device in section;

' FIG. 5 is a hook of a transport means.

According to FIG. 1, there is provided over the transport means 1, 2a laying device 3 reciprocating between them, which executes its reciprocatory motion by means of rolls 4, 5 on two rods 6 secured one behind the other on the superstructure 7 of the machine, only one of the rods being visible. In the example shown, two webs 8, 9, coming from unillustrated supply points, pass through the pressure roller pairs 10, 11, are guided ove'r levers 14, 15 equipped with tensionrollers l2, l3 and subject to spring action, and then enter the laying device 3. Due to the reciprocating movement of the with one web 8 or 9 or with several of them. The webs 8, 9 or the single web may be for example polyethylene foil, polypropylene foil or other suitable plastic foil, which is. split, spliced, fibrillated or only stretched as a pretreatment. It is further conceivable to divide the webs 8, 9 into groups of strips, which may have different dimensions. Lastly, the invention is not limited to the processing of plastic foils but may involve roving,

fabric, paper, foam, rubber or the like. Spun cables may also be used.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the webs 8, 9 enter the laying device 3 over rotating guide rollers 19, on the entrance side, are guided past another guide roller 21, and then enter aslot 22 consisting of guide plates 22a, 22b, and after passing therethrough the webs 8, 9 leave the laying device 3 in the direction of the transport means 1, 2. Instead of the single guide roller21 it may be preferable in practice to provide two rollers. Between the guide rollers 19, 20 there is further a guide rod 23, which serves to guide either web 8 or 9, depending at which end of its movement path the laying device 3 is located. The performance of the guide rollers 19, 20 is similar with respect to their alternating action.

As already indicated in FIG. 1, the laying device 3 moves back and forth on rods 6 by means of rolls 4, 5. On the other side of the laying device 3, rolls 24, 25 are provided in addition. The latter rolls 24, 25 and the rolls 4, 5 are mounted on side walls 26, 27, which enclose the inner functional parts of the laying device 3. The reciprocating movement of the laying device 3 is carried out by a chain 28, which for this purpose engages in a toothed segment 29 fixed-on the side wall 26 and is secured to the side wall 26 by means of the connecting pieces 30, 31. Chain V 28 is driven by two sprocket wheels (not shown) provided at the motion reversal points; it extends without interruption from the first connecting piece 30 over one sprocket wheel of one motion reversal point to the toothed segment 29 and from there to the second sprocket wheel of the other motion reversal point back to the connecting piece 3l. The guide rollers 19, 20,21 each have at their ends a collar 19a, 19b, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b to guide the webs8, 9 in incoming direction. To permit a fold-free entrance of the webs 8, 9, the guide rollers 19 to 21 are cylindrical,-concave or convex at the periphery, depending on the form which the material just then to be processed requires.

On the axle 32 of the guide roller 21, near each side wall 26, 27, a multi-member lever transmission 33 is provided, both transmissions 33 being connected for the purpose of synchronization. At each end of the double lever'34, a coupling member 35, 36 is articulated, each of the coupling members 35, 36 being followed by a movable lever 37, 38, so that the entire lever system of the multi-member transmission 33 is moved, during a pivotal movement of the double lever 34 about the axis 32, also about the pivot points 39, 40. The levers 37, 38 are so articulated to the coupling members 35 36 that the latter, when in inoperative position, form an acute angle with the double lever 34 (FIG. 4). In the inoperative position of the lever transmission 33, the inner pivot points 39, 40 lie above the plane of the outer pivot points 41, 42. Firmly connected with the coupling members 35,.36, there are arranged between the two lever transmissions 33 two retaining devices 43, 44, under which there is a holddown 45, 46. The retaining devices 43, 44 are connected for movement with the hold-downs 45, 46 and the retaining devices 43, 44 andhold-downs 45, 46 associated therewith are held at such a distance from each other that in operative position they engage over and under the hooks 16, 17 of the transport means 1, 2. To pivot the double lever 34, two run-up rolls 47, 48 are mounted thereon, which cooperate with run-up cams 49, 50 at the motion reversal points of the laying device 3, compression springs 51, 52 acting against the rise of the run-up cams 49, 50 and influencing the position of the double lever 34 in connection with colla studs 53, 54 on the double lever 34.

According to the position in FIG. 2, the laying device 3 has just reached the motion reversal. point at the right. By roll 47 running onto cam 49, the double lever 34 was pivoted out counterclockwise in deviation from its inoperative or normal position shown in FIG. 4. While the coupling member 35 and lever37 were thus brought almost to a fully extended position, the lever pair 36, 38 became inflected and the retaining device 44 and the hold-down 46 reached their operative position.

The insertion comb 55, in the form of a needle strip, of the retaining device 44 has, therefore, pricked into the webs 8, 9 issuing from the slot 22, the guide plates 22a, 22b of which are a smaller distance from each other on the exit side than on the entrance side. Because the hooks 16 of the transport means 2 stand between the retaining device 44 and the hold-down 46, the webs 8, 9 were pushed onto the hooks 16. The retaining device 44, in particular the insertion comb 55, acts counter to the movement of the transport means 2, prevents a function-disturbing crosswise displacement of the webs 8, 9, and thus ensures that the latter are placed around the hooks 16 during the start of the movement of the laying device 3 toward the left motion reversal point. Apart from a needle strip, the insertion comb 55 alternatively may constitute tines or needles or other pointed members. Moreover, the pointed members may be arranged in sub-groups.

The same process occurs at the left end of movement of the laying device 3.

In the operative position of the lever transmission 33 (FIG. 3), the retaining devices 43, 44 and hold-downs 45, 46 are positioned above the lower edge of the slot 22, or at least not below it.

The hooks 16, 17 of the transport means 1, 2 are equipped in front with points to permit a very easy sliding on of the material webs 8, 9 (FIG. 5). I

What is claimed is:

1. In a warp knitting machine, particularly a stitching machine, comprising a series of pointed knitting needles which operate in a stitching zone, associated with the series of needles at least one laying bar, mounted on the laying bar a series of pointed eye needles, weft laying means located before the stitching zone for laying a continuous length of material in the weft direction, means for reciprocating the laying means in the weft direction, two transport means provided with hooks for receiving the weft material and located at the motion reversal points of the laying means, the laying means comprising means for guiding the weft material and two hold-down means for pressing the weft material into engagement with the hooks at the respective motion reversal points of the laying means, the improvement in which the laying means is adapted for laying at least one web as the weft material, the guide means comprises means defining a slot above and in a plane transverse to the plane in which the webs are laid,

and the laying means further comprises mounted for movement with each of the hold-down means a respective retaining means and means for moving each combination of hold-down means and retaining means between an inoperative position when the combination is not adjacent the hooks and in which the hold-down means and the retaining means are positioned above a plane in which the hooks are open and in an operative position when the combination is adjacent the hooks and in which the hold-down means is positioned in or on the far side of a plane in which the hooks are open thereby to press the web into the hook openings and the retaining means engages the web between the slotdefining means and the hooks.

2. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the slot-defining means comprises two spaced guide plate positioned for receiving the webs at one edge of the slot and for permitting the webs to exit at an opposite edge of the slot, the plates being more closely spaced at the exit edge of the slot than at the entrance edge of the slot.

3. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which in the inoperative position each combination of hold-down means and retaining means is positioned not beyond the exit edge of the slot.

4. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which in the operative position the hooks are located between the hold-down means and the retaining means.

5. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the retaining means comprise means for pricking the webs when the combination is in the operative position.

6. Warp knitting machine according to claim 5, in the improvement in which the pricking means comprises pointed members.

7. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the means for moving the combinations of hold-down means and retaining means comprises a double lever pivotally mounted at a point intermediate its ends, two coupling members each articulatedly connected at one end to a respective end of the double lever, two single levers each articulatedly connected at one end to the other end of a respective one of the coupling members and pivotally mounted at the other end, each of said combinations of hold-down means and retaining means being mounted on a respective one of the coupling members in proximity to said other end of the coupling member.

8. Warp knitting machine according to claim 7, in the improvement in which the means for moving the combinations of hold-down means and retaining means further comprises a roller mounted on each of the arms of the double lever, spring means normally holding the double lever in an orientation parallel to the motion of the laying means, and adjacent each motion reversal point a cam positioned to engage one of the rollers and thereby urge the double lever, against the action of the spring means, out of its aforementioned parallel position into a position in which one of said combinations is placed in its operative position.

9. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the guide means further comprises rolls for guiding the webs to the slot, the rolls each having a cylindrical, concave or-convex surface provided with marginal collars.

l0. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for guiding the webs under tension to the laying means, said guiding means including a pair of rollers biased together to form a nip for gripping and guiding one of the webs. 

1. In a warp knitting machine, particularly a stitching machine, comprising a series of pointed knitting needles which operate in a stitching zone, associated with the series of needles at least one laying bar, mounted on the laying bar a series of pointed eye needles, weft laying means located before the stitching zone for laying a continuous length of material in the weft direction, means for reciprocating the laying means in the weft direction, two transport means provided with hooks for receiving the weft material and located at the motion reversal points of the laying means, the laying means comprising means for guiding the weft material and two hold-down means for pressing the weft material into engagement with the hooks at the respective motion reversal points of the laying means, the improvement in which the laying means is adapted for laying at least one web as the weft material, the guide means comprises means defining a slot above and in a plane transverse to the plane in which the webs are laid, and the laying means further comprises mounted for movement with each of the hold-down means a respective retaining means and means for moving each combination of hold-down means and retaining means between an inoperative position when the combination is not adjacent the hooks and in which the hold-down means and the retaining means are positioned above a plane in which the hooks are open and in an operative position when the combination is adjacent the hooks and in which the hold-down means is positioned in or on the far side of a plane in which the hooks are open thereby to press the web into the hook openings and the retaining means engages the web between the slot-defining means and the hooks.
 2. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the slot-defining means comprises two spaced guide plate positioned for receiving the webs at one edge of the slot and for permitting the webs to exit at an opposite edge of the slot, the plates being more closely spaced at the exit edge of the slot than at the entrance edge of the slot.
 3. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which in the inoperative position each combination of hold-down means and retaining means is positioned not beyond the exit edge of the slot.
 4. Warp knitting machine according to clAim 1, in the improvement in which in the operative position the hooks are located between the hold-down means and the retaining means.
 5. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the retaining means comprise means for pricking the webs when the combination is in the operative position.
 6. Warp knitting machine according to claim 5, in the improvement in which the pricking means comprises pointed members.
 7. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the means for moving the combinations of hold-down means and retaining means comprises a double lever pivotally mounted at a point intermediate its ends, two coupling members each articulatedly connected at one end to a respective end of the double lever, two single levers each articulatedly connected at one end to the other end of a respective one of the coupling members and pivotally mounted at the other end, each of said combinations of hold-down means and retaining means being mounted on a respective one of the coupling members in proximity to said other end of the coupling member.
 8. Warp knitting machine according to claim 7, in the improvement in which the means for moving the combinations of hold-down means and retaining means further comprises a roller mounted on each of the arms of the double lever, spring means normally holding the double lever in an orientation parallel to the motion of the laying means, and adjacent each motion reversal point a cam positioned to engage one of the rollers and thereby urge the double lever, against the action of the spring means, out of its aforementioned parallel position into a position in which one of said combinations is placed in its operative position.
 9. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, in the improvement in which the guide means further comprises rolls for guiding the webs to the slot, the rolls each having a cylindrical, concave or convex surface provided with marginal collars.
 10. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for guiding the webs under tension to the laying means, said guiding means including a pair of rollers biased together to form a nip for gripping and guiding one of the webs. 